Janif will work closely with the Fiji FA technical department to oversee the development of the programme, the pilot phase of which was officially launched in Fiji earlier this week.
He prepared for the role by attending an instructor course, held by OFC in Auckland during January, where he joined up with the Just Play project managers from other member associations and was briefed on the tasks he will be required to carry out.
Janif says he is ready to take on the challenge and can’t wait to get started.
“I would like to thank Fiji FA for providing this opportunity and having faith in me to manage the Just Play programme,” he says.
“This job will be a challenging one for me and I’m looking forward to the task that lies ahead.”
The new man in charge has already plotted his immediate plans.
“The first task is to train coaches, teachers and volunteers to educate them about the programme,” he says. “They will then become instructors and can carry out Just Play in their schools or communities.
“Through the support of OFC, Fiji FA will provide the instructors with equipment such as balls, cones and bibs. The task for me will then be to monitor the progress.”
The programme has been launched in the Nausori and Suva zones and other areas will be targeted over the coming weeks.
“The main objective of the programme is to use football as a tool to promote healthy living,” Janif says. “We want to let as many children as possible play football, interact with others, share human values and, most importantly, have fun playing football.”
Developed by the OFC social responsibility and technical departments, Just Play was launched in Vanuatu last April and has since been introduced in Tonga, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and South Auckland in New Zealand.
OFC is working closely with UEFA, the Government of Australia – through its agencies the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) – and Football Federation Australia (FFA) to roll out the programme across the Pacific. The Australian Government has shown its support to the project by contributing AU$4million.
In South Auckland, Just Play is supported by OFC’s partnership with the Sir John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation, Counties Manukau Sport and Auckland Football Federation.
For more on Fiji football go to www.fijifootball.com.fj